NEWTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team went 1-1 in a pair of matches Saturday, first falling to Lasell University 3-1, then picking up a 3-1 victory over Elms College.
The Leopards fell in an early 3-1 hole in the first, but a pair of kills for Wentworth over the next three points brought them within a point. Trailing by three, two kills from sophomore Jacob LaBouliere (Pipersville, Pa.) brough the score to a 7-6 deficit for the Leopards. An ace by senior Phoenix Stebbins (Harrisburg, Pa.) and kill from senior Connor Adams (Budd Lake, N.J.) helped keep the visitors within a point, but Lasell then took six of the following seven points, opening up a 19-13 lead. The Pride's Tucker Merritt (Redondo Beach, Calif.) connected on three service aces during the run as the home team took a six point lead. Two more kills from LaBouliere, as well as one from junior Hunter Oshman (Pennington, N.J.) and an ace by junior Colin Stockton (Hummelstown, Pa.) pulled Wentworth back, as the Leopards trailed 19-16. But Lasell was able to go on another run, winning six of eight to close out the opening set. Jesus Garcia (Honolulu, Hawaii) picked up a kill and ace during the closing moments, helping the Pride to a 25-18 win in the first.
Kills from LaBouliere and graduate student David Marsh (Springfield, Mass.) got the Leopards even in the early stages of the second at 2-2. After falling behind 5-3 following a trio of Lasell kills, Wentworth came back to take an 11-8 lead following three kills by LaBouliere and ace from Stockton. The Pride tied the set at 11, and two kills from Oshman and junior Alex McLane (Columbus, Ohio) put the Leopards ahead 16-14. After a point from the Pride, two more kills by LaBouliere were part of four straight points for Wentworth, who took a 20-15 lead. Despite a late push from Lasell, who cut the deficit to two points, a kill by McLane finished the set, as the Leopards tied the match at 1-1.
Lasell picked up a 3-2 lead in the third, followed by one kill from Adams and LaBouliere to give the visitors the lead. A pair of errors put Wentworth behind, but they scored the next two points to take the lead back. The home team picked up three kills and held a 12-10 advantage, but kills by Oshman and McLane were part of three straight points to give Wentworth a 13-12 lead. The teams split the next four points, but the Pride then went on a 5-1 run, including a pair of kills from Jordan Shinault (Peoria, Ariz.) Lasell built a 19-16 lead, but the Leopards again came back, taking the lead late. Two kills and an ace from LaBouliere helped Wentworth win six of eight, taking a 23-22 lead and having a chance to take a 2-1 lead in the match. However, the Pride won three of four, taking a one point lead. A kill by Oshman tied the set at 25-25, followed by two points from Lasell to take a back-and-forth third set by a 27-25 score.
Wentworth got kills from four different players in the opening portion of the second set, as LaBouliere, Marsh, sophomore Tyler Jack (San Jose, Calif.), and Stockton all collected finishers to get the Leopards out to an 8-2 lead. A kill by Waga and two aces from LaBouliere pushed the advantage to 11-3. The Saints won three of four to cut their deficit to six points, but a kill by junior Alex McLane (Columbus, Ohio) and an ace by junior Tristan McDonough (Shelton, Conn.) extended the lead back to eight points at 20-12. The Leopards were able to maintain their eight-point advantage through the end of the set, as kills from LaBouliere and McDonough finished off the second set with a 25-17 Wentworth victory.
A kill by Marsh and ace by sophomore Anthony Krzykowski (Feeding Hills, Mass.) early in the third drew the set even at 3-3, followed by two straight for Lasell. Two kills by both LaBouliere and Oshman put Wentworth ahead 10-8 after winning seven of 10, but the Pride tied it shortly after with two straight points. The home team then went on an 8-3 stretch, taking the lead back and forcing a Leopard timeout. Another Oshman kill cut the Wentworth deficit to two points at 18-16, but Lasell was dominant the rest of the way. Three kills by Brenden Joyce (Randolph, Mass.) were part of the Pride claiming seven of the final nine points, as a 25-18 victory in the fourth gave the home team the victory.
LaBouliere led all Wentworth players with 20 kills, while Adams had 39 assists. Stebbins picked up nine digs for the Leopards in the match.
Wentworth 3, Elms 1
The Leopards started their second match strong, scoring 10 of the first 12 points. Two kills by LaBouliere, as well as one each from Marsh and Oshman, were key in the run to start off the match. After a pair of points by Elms, LaBouliere and Jack added kills, followed by Oshman and sophomore Jacob Waga (East Northport, N.Y.) picking up one each. Wentworth led 16-6 after the four kills, but the Blazers came back to win four of five points, narrowing their deficit to seven. The teams split the next six points, but the Leopards came back with three straight points, including a kill from Dylan Burritt (Newbury Park, Calif.) and an ace by Krzykowski. A pair of kills from Waga closed out the set, as Wentworth claimed a 25-17 victory.
After two kills by Jack and freshman Sam Etter (Massillon, Ohio), Wentworth held a 4-3 lead in the second. With the Leopards still holding on to a one point lead after a kill by McDonough, the Blazers took control of the set. Elms won 12 of the next 15 points, including two kills from Antonio Delgado Rolon (Aibonito, P.R.) to take a 17-9 advantage. However, a trio of kills from Waga and an ace from freshman Dave Arellanes (North Aurora, Ill.) pulled Wentworth within three after five straight points. But the Blazers came back to win four of five, holding a six point lead at 21-15. The Leopards were unable to make up the deficit, as Elms held on to their lead and won the set 25-18, evening the match at 1-1.
Elms kept up the strong play to start the third, jumping out to a 5-2 lead. Kills by McDonough and LaBouliere got Wentworth within a point, and the Leopards then ran off three straight points to take the lead, as Marsh and Jack picked up kills. After a few errors allowed the Blazers to come back and take the lead at 11-10, the Leopards took over the set. They won nine of 11 points, receiving two kills each from LaBouliere and McDonough. After Elms broke the skid, Wentworth won six of the final seven points, as they took a 2-1 lead in the match following a 25-15 win in the third.
Another strong start was in store for the Leopards in the second, as one kill from Marsh and Jack, and two from LaBouliere, jumpstarted Wentworth as they took an 8-3 lead in the second. The Eagles responded though, winning four straight to pull within a point. The Leopards then rallied for five of six points, thanks to kills from Waga and LaBouliere. Trailing 17-13, Benedictine won three straight to again get within one. But the Leopards went on another 8-3 run, this one closing out the set courtesy of a kill and ace from Jack, with LaBouliere and Waga adding one kill each to put the Leopards up 2-0 in the match following a 25-19 victory in the second.
Two more kills from LaBouliere and a pair of aces from Wentworth had them at a 4-3 advantage to start the fourth set, but Elms came back with three straight to pull ahead. But one kill from LaBouliere and three from McDonough helped the Leopards win seven of eight points, taking an 11-7 lead as Elms took a timeout. The Blazers came back strong out of the break, winning five of six to tie the set, and took the lead after a Leopard timeout with an ace. Still trailing by one at 17-16, Wentworth surrendered just one point throughout the remainder of the match. Two kills by Arellanes, three by Jack, and one from both LaBouliere and McDonough were part of the 9-1 Leopard run to close out the set and the match, as Wentworth took the fourth 25-18 to finish things off.
LaBouliere had a team-high 15 kills in the match, and Adams added 27 assists while Krzykowski had 16. Stebbins led the way defensively, earning six digs.
THE SERIES:
This was the 48th time that Wentworth and Lasell have met. The Leopards now lead the series 29-19. Wentworth and Elms faced off for the 18th time today, with the Leopards holding a 14-4 advantage all-time.
NEXT UP:
The Leopards return to the court Thursday, Feb. 24, when they are on the road at #1 ranked Springfield College.
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